North Shore's Waimea Valley closed for rock-scaling maintenance

Waimea Valley will be closed to the public through January while workers conduct rock-scaling at the North Shore refuge's front entrance and waterfall area.

In a news release, Waimea Valley's executive director, Richard Pezulla, said, "The valley rock scaling maintenance is aimed at providing our visitors with a safe and first-rate experience when they visit us." The last rock-scaling was completed in 2008, and there haven't been any reported rock slides there since then, according to the statement.

Barring unforseen circumstances, the leafy 1,875-acre site will reopen at about Jan. 30. Among the valley's highlights: a botanical garden-lined one-mile trail to Waihi Wailele (Waimea Falls), and a 150-acre arboretum and botanical garden area filled with more than 5,000 species of tropical plants, including several hundred Hawaiian plants.

Waimea Valley further plans to finish renovating its Proud Peacock Restaurant and reopen it in March, according to the statement. The restaurant closed in the mid-1990s, and when it reopens, with 100 seats, it aims to "retain its old-Hawaiian charm," the statement read.

The Waimea Valley nonprofit's mission is to preserve and perpetuate human, cultural and natural resources of the historic Oahu valley for generations through education and stewardship. For more information, call (808) 638-7766.

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